Nagler: The Search For A Nonviolent

In Nagler’s book: The Search for a Nonviolent, the author expresses his views on nonviolence and many different topics relevant to world peace. Nagler, when talking about nonviolence, mentions the importance of practicing mindfulness and having inner peace. He mentions through his book that this is the way towards nonviolence. Nagler states (2004) that “our thoughts, our speech, and our outer behavior have a nonviolent effect on the world” (pg.44). Gandhi’s nonviolent movement in India is a great example. Gandhi led an immense march leading to the coast, so they could harvest salt which was illegal under British law. He also would have his followers spin their own cotton and fabricate their own clothing. Gandhi, when leading this movement, was said to practice mindfulness and meditate everyday to better his inner peace. Despite his constant calmness, Gandhi demonstrated anger when he was thrown from a train during the beginning of his life which conveys his humanity. Along with this, he also was demanding and abusive towards his wife before the start of his movement. Nagler’s point of inner peace being the
Nagler (2004) supports the idea that nonviolence works by saying that the outcome of using nonviolence is not a by-product but a result (pg156). This is referring to nonviolence not being a last resort and how it is mostly successful and not just a coincidence. Nagler (2004) also stated “violence sometimes works but it never works; nonviolence sometimes works and never fails to work” (pg129). Nagler is stating here that nonviolence is not weak but is a powerful tool that should be used just like any other method of combat. In India, Gandhi used nonviolence to free his people from the British rule. Martin Luther King Jr. used nonviolence also in the civil rights movement and it showed great success. In Egypt protesters occupied a public square which resulted in a 30 year ruler stepping